SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1145        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1278

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Michael J. Barrett

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act protecting in-person visitation for inmates.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Michael J. Barrett

Third Middlesex

 

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

1/30/2017

Mary S. Keefe

15th Worcester

1/31/2017

Sal N. DiDomenico

Middlesex and Suffolk

2/3/2017


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1145        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1278

By Mr. Barrett, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1278) of Michael J. Barrett, James B. Eldridge, Mary S. Keefe and Sal N. DiDomenico for legislation to protect in-person visitation for inmates.  Public Safety and Homeland Security.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

_______________

 

An Act protecting in-person visitation for inmates.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 127 of the of the Massachusetts General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following section:

Section 36 ½.  No commissioner or superintendent of a correctional institution of the commonwealth or any jail or house of correction in the commonwealth or the keeper of such jail or house of correction may prohibit, eliminate or unreasonably or unjustifiably limit in-person visitation of inmates, nor may such commissioner, superintendent, or keeper enter into any arrangement with any vendor that prohibits, eliminates or limits in-person visitation of inmates, nor may such commissioner, superintendent, or keeper coerce, compel, or otherwise pressure an inmate to forego or limit in-person visitation. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit temporary suspension of visitation privileges for individual inmates for misbehavior, nor temporary suspension of visitation privileges within a facility for the duration of a bonafide emergency, provided that in-person visitation shall be restored as soon as is practicable after the resolution of said emergency.